Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone,

*****************************************

Is 28:16
Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].

One of the many things that captured my attention with this verse of sciprture found in the Holy Bible, Who is laying this STONE,?????

He says Behold...I lay in ZION a foundation. ... It is the LORD GOD

Let us define ZION..........

Zion, it is the House where GOD dwells...or the community (City) and harmony of GOD

The Family of believers as expressed and represnted through fellowship or more accuartely describes as Koinonia...

YOU ARE the Dwelling place of Almighty GOD HIMSELF...

WE ARE ZION. and our Cheif Corner Stone is Jesus Christ. ..,

Eph 2:20
You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.


Eph 2:21
In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].


Eph 2:22
In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.

1 Pet 2:5
[Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

We are a building figuartively, with Jesus HIMself being the Cheif corner stone..

How is this stone described...


Ps 118:22
The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.

The stone that the builders rejected.... Those assigned to build GOD a house rejected the very stone that could establish the Building....... Now dont you start feeling bad when you face rejection.... Actually its a likely credential that identifes YOU as favorable building material to be used by GOD.


Ps 118:23
This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.

Yes GOD layed the stone.. Jesus..., It was prophecy fullfilled...


Ps 118:24
This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.


Ps 48:1
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain.


Ps 48:2
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King.

Mark 11:22 And Jesus *answered saying to them, "Have faith in God

*************


I have on more than a single occasion found myself unable to find a solution for some problem occurring in my life, be it an illness , a moral short coming although repentant, a financial problem , a job , a relationship, family or whatever.

The answer has always been, no matter the dilemma, was to have faith in GOD. I became more confident in living for Jesus as I observed the hand of GOD bringing forth saving grace and favor when I needed it most..... It was only then that I could truly appreciate a passage shown below....,

Observe what the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor 1


The Trial:

2 Cor 1:8
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

The reason for the Trial:

2 Cor 1:9
indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

The results, the final product of the Trial... Trust in GOD..

2 Cor 1:10
who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,

Paul came to the conclusion that if they were in a humanly insurmountable situation and they could see no way out..., that indeed GOD could and would save them....

Scripture says , .. so that we would not trust in ourselves........ This perplexing circumstance occurred so that... Trust in GOD could be realized ..or revealed.. We never know how much we really trust and have faith in GOD until a time of testing occurs in our lives..

Let me say this .. Trust is also a way of describing Faith... and Faith can be further defined as , Relying on GOD, Clinging to GOD and Yes trusting in GOD......

John 6:29
Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

Having faith in God through our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ...produces results.., and lack of Faith well fuels very little results...


Little faith.... fewer results..........

Matt 13:58
And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief

Big Faith ....Big Results:......................

Mark 5:34
And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction."

We must never hold the idea of faith as a small matter.., it is the very thing that pleases GOD to the point that He reacts on your behalf...

Heb 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Please readers, take note of a key word in the scripture.., Having Faith is also a work of diligence.. , a work of persistence... Personally I never stop praying about a matter until I get an answer from GOD... , that's right I never stop until GOD answers me , when He says ok Ormond I hear you , you can get out of my ear now...LOL.. GOD rewards diligence..

Luke 11:10
For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.

Well the Beloved of GOD, the people He died for that you might Trust HIM... Praise His name.. Here is a song that represents the theme of this lesson...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MgboThkiBI&feature=related

Matt 6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Our Lord Jesus in this verse was giving us a truth that applies to daily living.

In today's terms we would say it something like this.. ,

There is always something, or if it aint one thing then it's another.

Things going wrong or trouble is a part of living in a sin filled world to make it plain. And, much of our time is often consumed by worrying about the happen stances of our life journey.



Jesus , our gracious LORD has an answer and a solution for this plight.

Matt 6:25
"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

I love the scripture.

Matt 6:25 It explains to me in simple terms something I find miraculous. Jesus says is not life more the food.

I have given you life which is far greater in value than the food required to sustain that life.

I have given you a body, shall I not make sure you have clothing.

When we think about the complexity of the human body we can only stand in awe of the handiwork of GOD.

139:13
For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb.

Those of us who have our sin removed , we are ordained in purpose, with an entirely different life agenda than a life monopolized with the daily pursuit of life's neccesities......

.This is NOT for us.....the curse has been lifted.... our LORD has plans for us;

Jer 29:11
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

And in substance, being Born Again or Born from Above, to be distinctly different than those who know not GOD, and therefore can see no other way out than adhering to the Worlds system of living...

1 Pet 1:23
You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.

Our very existence is of extremely high value to the LORD , the provision for our existence takes far less effort from the LORD , so why worry. the LORD has you covered and delivers on His promise. I will never leave you or forsake you... Read this very very strong passage in the book of Hebrews ..

Heb 13:5
Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)!

No wonder the LORD tells us not to WORRY

Matt 6:31
"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'

He is very much aware of our state . We must not be like the Gentiles as described in scipture , meaning persons without GOD in their life.

Matt 6:32
"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Being consumed with the daily grind of living should not be our situation.

Matt 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Our focus should not be to seek provision , our focus should be to seek the provider .

Getting on track with the LORD's purpose for you will remove you from being under the heavy burdens characterising those persons who are absent the knowledge of the saving power of Jesus.

Those who know not our LORD in the pardon of their sins endure an ongoing process of worry, frustration and confusion seeking things to make them happy.

And even when those things are had the happiness is short lived and the feelings they anticipated they would have once all their material possessions are had .. well the feelings are empty...


Eccl 2:11
Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Lets us not fall short by focusing on the wrong things, let us find our purpose our happiness our fulfillment and yes our provision in JESUS!!!!


Matt 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]


Matt 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]


Matt 11:30
For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound

I was recently blesed with a Youtube video clip that featured Whitel Phipps , the profound Minister of the Lord in Music and preaching. The story presented was about the the making of the song Amazing Grace. It is simply a must see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfGytXRpfho


Eph 2:8
For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

Moral and Social Conflict on Election Results

The conflict surrounds my faith in the incorruptible inerrant Word of God as written in the Holy Bible... and today's politics.. neither candidate lines up with what I deem fundamental Christian principles

Principle Number 1.) I am Pro-life.. because:

Ps 139:13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.

Obama defends abortion rights..

Principle Number 2.) I an against oppression and Believe we are to defend the defenseless

Ps 82:3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute

The McCain camp was a woefully poor record regarding the plight of the underclass and middle class segment of our society.

: